 | New songs of innocence |  |
24
WEATHERCOCKS.
What can it be up yonder
That twinkles and shines in the sun?
A golden star of wonder,
Before daylight is done?
So brightly now it's blazing,
The sun it seems to mock!
My Willie can't help gazing—
But it's only the weathercock.
That twinkles and shines in the sun?
A golden star of wonder,
Before daylight is done?
So brightly now it's blazing,
The sun it seems to mock!
My Willie can't help gazing—
But it's only the weathercock.
Round about he dances
With all the winds that blow,
Enjoying the envious glances
Of the living birds below;
But a foot held fast in a fetter,
Though gold may be all the rest—
Ah, little brown birds, far better
Are freedom of flight, and a nest!
With all the winds that blow,
Enjoying the envious glances
Of the living birds below;
But a foot held fast in a fetter,
Though gold may be all the rest—
Ah, little brown birds, far better
Are freedom of flight, and a nest!
But he's so high uplifted,
Thinks Willie, he must be wise;
Not every one is gifted
To look into the skies.
Though he saw the heaven's formation
He would neither know nor care;
It's not the height of the station,
But the head and the heart that are there.
Thinks Willie, he must be wise;
Not every one is gifted
To look into the skies.
25
He would neither know nor care;
It's not the height of the station,
But the head and the heart that are there.
My Willie, you'll find surprises
In this world are the rule:
The man that to fortune rises
Is sometimes a lucky fool;
A prince is often a peasant,
Whose deeds his dress bemock;
And many a priest at present
Is only a weathercock.
In this world are the rule:
The man that to fortune rises
Is sometimes a lucky fool;
A prince is often a peasant,
Whose deeds his dress bemock;
And many a priest at present
Is only a weathercock.
| New songs of innocence | |